NO MORE RACING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10002, 20 June 1918, Page 8

NO MORE RACING

To tho Editor “N.Z. Times.’' Sir,—Consistent rumours pervade tho atmosphere that the Government is seriously considering the closing dowm of racing during tho war period. The raison d'etre is very hard to discern. Indeed, it would appear that a move in the opposite direction would ho more beneficial to the community at large. There can bo no disputing tho fact that tho narrowminded section of the community is rapidly gaining the upper baud in the politics of the country, to the detriment of tho majority. One has only to note the drastic nature of the social legislation of the past decade to realise that. It only wants tho re-iutroduction of tho Curfew Bell,' and tho whole fabric ot liberty so strenuously fought for by our ancestors comes crashing to the ground; and if we go on as we are now that event may materialise. As mentioned, the reason for the proposed action of the Government is not bv any means obvious. homo publicists assert that it is, but they are utterly unable to give any grounds to support their contribution. Racing has been a British pastime for centuries and centuries. It even goes back to the Romans, and it has withstood the assaults of the kiljoy element over since. bp where is tho necessity to destroy suddenly the whole of the racing system ol the. Dominion because there is a war going on 12,000 miles an ay? _ Tho racing man of to-day is either an elderly person, or on© unfit for military service. If there aro any hangers-on who do not come, under tho above category the Military Service Act provides for them. Look at tbo immense amount of relaxation a soldier'in training doi ives from a day’s racing. He benefits botn mentally and physically. And the same thing applies to the civilian who is just as much entitled to relaxation as anyone. Borne people find relaxation from sitting in a room reading a book an day. But all are not like them. Some derive much benefit from a bun fight oi : a picnic: all are not like 'them. Some people aro bored stiff by the theatre, others would go every night if possible.

People are all different in compositionmental, spiritual, and every other way. Then, why interfere with the pleasures of the majority because they do not fall into line with the ideas of the minority? As bas been -pointed out botorc, tn® vast majority of those actively engaged in horse racing are men who are absolutely hopeless as soldiers. There cannot be 2 per cent, of tho ttamere who are eligible for service, and tbo Military Service Act will look after that 2 possible good can accrue from an embargo op the sport. Ihe first thing it will do if it does come about, will be suddenly to hurl hundreds of men. unfit for anything else, on to the labour market. Those men have done nothing all their lives but tend boraee. Half of them wore horn in a etable, metaphorically speaking, and now the Government would make skilled artisans, agriculturists, and sailors of them. The suggestion is absurd. impracticable and unfair. Why does the Government start with, racial? 9 It receives a hm?o revenue from the sport, far more than it receives from marble bars, or Pictures, which, are far more pernicious than racing. P 6O " ole of Wellington, for instance, do not pet one day’s racing ,a month. Tna other two channels of dissipation have open plav for twenty-eiprht days per month, which can hardlv be called equitable. Then there are the large stores their forty guinea coats and go on. They can hardlv be called a necessity in these days. At a -recent meeting » this province one speaker talked of iugotten gains’' on the racecourse. He was not an fait with bis subject. There is no place on the planet to make money go round and round amongst the same people as the racecourse, and therefore it should be tho last thing to suppress. Everyone knows there is a certain class banging round the different meetings, who could and should be better employed. but why damn the whole for the ac-

tions of an infinitesimal percentage? Whv not be logical and prohibit the sale of razors because a man once cut his throat with one. -or close tho stores on account of shoplifters? If tho Government does take this drastic step several sections of the community will feel tho pinch. Take the growers of the grain which tho horses devour, the straw, the saddlery used, tho tailoring, the huge sums the Government will lose in the Telegraph Department, the loss of revenue to the Railway Department. which, bv the way, could, and should, be quadrupled. Ail those matters should be thoroughly weighed before any decision adverse to racing is arrived at. Racing has three staunch sunoortera in the Cabinet, but unfortunately, they are in a minority so weak that they may be tempted to waver. What will happen if racing is stopped will be something akin to what has followed sir o’clock closing of hotels. Although racing is not. and should not be, a vehicle for gambling solely, everyone knows that a certain amount of gambling is indulged in on the course, just the same as there is at election time, despite Its illegality. A gambler will always gamble whether ifjbo on a horse, in mining, or oven buying merchandise, and no one will ever stop it. A lot of idealists imagine they will, but they should immediately turn their attention to more practicable endeavours. Like the most ancient profession in tbo world, ft will always be with us. In conclusion it should bo emphasised that racing is proceeding in England, France, Germany, Austria. Canada and Australia, all of which are nearer the seat of war than New Zealand.—l am, etc., WATCHMAN.